Achy Obejas, critically acclaimed novelist of Ruins, and Days of Awe, reads from her new short story collection The Tower of the Antilles, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)

City Lights and Ars Citizen present reception and book signing to celebrate the release of Rachel Monique published by Editions Xavier Barral, and a rare appearance of French conceptual artist Sophie Calle (on the occasion of her forthcoming show at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture), a wide selection of her work will be available, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 6:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)

Oliver Chin, author, publisher and founder of Immedium, discusses the children's book industry and its lack of Asian American representation in the United States, shares how Immedium, his publishing company, has addressed this by collaborating with multicultural creators, sponsored by Asian American Studies, Asian American and Pacific Islander Retention and Education, and the Asian American & Pacific Islander Student Services, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, LIB 121, 10:30 a.m.-noon (415/338-2698)

36th Annual Northern California Book Awards, Northern California authors are honored in Fiction, General Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Translation, and Children's Literature with brief readings and remarks; presentation of the Fred Cody Lifetime Achievement Award to poet, activist, and cultural theorist Judy Grahn; NCBR Recognition Award to Power to the People: The World of the Black Panthers, by Bobby Seale and Stephen Shames; master of ceremonies Oscar Villalon, ZYZZYVA Managing Editor, presented by the Northern California Book Reviewers, Poetry Flash, San Francisco Public Library and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, PEN West, Women's National Book Association-SF Chapter, and Mechanics' Institute Library, Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin, enter at Grove, SF, free, 5:30, book signing reception follows (510/525-5476, NCBR@poetryflash.org, poetryflash.org)

Tuesdays at North Beach, a weekly poetry series celebrating international poets and showcasing local talent, presents a reading by Patti Trimble and Toshi Washizu, curated by Jack Hirschman, North Beach Branch Library, 850 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 6:30 (415/522-8602, www.friendssfpl.org/events/tuesdays-at-north-beach.html)